New Zealand Can And Must Do More for Refugees

New Zealand Can And Must Do More for Refugees –
Changemakers Refugee Forum

Wellington - The
world is facing the largest humanitarian crisis since 1945.
ChangeMakers Refugee Forum is proud of New Zealand’s
commitment to assist the UNHCR to build a better future for
refugees, forcibly displaced and stateless people in New
Zealand. However, as a country, they believe we can and must
do more.

“It’s time for change and at ChangeMakers
Refugee Forum we’ll be taking a lead in the conversations
calling for improvements to settling our refugee background
communities,” says ChangeMakers Chair, Ibrahim
Omer.

ChangeMakers Refugee Forum is the only umbrella
organisation of its kind in Wellington and therefore is a
core part of the refugee background landscape. They actively
work in partnership with other refugee service providers,
central and local government agencies, not-for-profits,
community groups, and funders working across the Wellington
region. They also work in partnership with other like-minded
organisations around the country such as the New Zealand
National Refugee Network.

Throughout the year,
ChangeMakers Refugee Forum continued to work with their
Leaders Council who are leaders of their respective
communities. They met regularly and worked to open up
channels for the leaders to share their community’s
settlement challenges with relevant stakeholders.

“Our
work is not just theory or policy or research or statistics.
For those of us working daily with refugee background
communities, we know people as individuals, with real needs,
hopes and dreams for themselves and their families,” says
Ibrahim Omer.

“We hear their stories of courage and
challenge. We share their vision to rebuild their lives, to
find employment that uses their skills, to see their
children educated, to build a safe and comfortable life, and
for them and their families to flourish in their new
Wellington life.”

To arrive as a refugee is not to
remain a refugee. ChangeMakers Refugee Forum want to start
changing the public narrative. Former refugees in New
Zealand go on to make a vital contribution to the social and
economic fabric of our nation. They work, pay taxes,
volunteer, and are active members of society.

ChangeMakers Refugee Forum is committed to working
towards a new understanding of how refugee background
communities contribute to a better New Zealand. "We are
asking you to join us. A shared voice is a strong voice,”
says Ibrahim Omer.

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